[A case of thymic cancer effectively treated by weekly paclitaxel combined with carboplatin]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2014 Dec;41(13):2607-9.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 65-year-old woman with left chest pain, back pain, and palpitation that had persisted for 2 months was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography of her chest showed an anterior mediastinal tumor with mediastinal lymphadenopathy, left pleural effusion, and pericardial effusion. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration of the subcarinal lymphadenopathy was performed. The pathological findings and other examinations such as bone scintigraphy suggested advanced thymic cancer (stage IV b according to the Masaoka classification of thymic epithelial tumors). The patient was treated with combination chemotherapy of carboplatin(area under the curve [AUC]=6, 656 mg/body, day 1) and weekly paclitaxel (70 mg/m², 100 mg/body, days 1, 8, and 15). After 4 cycles of chemotherapy, a partial response was achieved and the pericardial effusion disappeared. The patient did not experience any severe toxicity, except for grade 1 nausea, grade 2 anemia, and grade 2 alopecia. Weekly paclitaxel combined with carboplatin appears to be a useful regimen with minimal toxicity for advanced thymic cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Thymus Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Carboplatin
  • Paclitaxel